E! News’ Terrence J (real name Terrence Jenkins) is in full promo mode, promoting The Wealth of My Mother’s Wisdom, his first memoir which is full of stories, lessons and advice. This week, the TV personality/actor stopped by Power 105’s ‘The Breakfast Club’, sharing what inspired the book, as well as opening up about how he almost went bankrupt while at BET’s 106 & Park, his challenges with the skin disorder Vitiligo (a condition that causes depigmentation of sections of skin) and more. Check out a few excerpts.

On if he learned lessons from past BET personalities:

Yeah, absolutely man giving 99% is the same as like giving 0%. I’m always 110% in what I do….I knew I always wanted to do films. I never wanted to feel broke…so when I hustle all of these jobs, it’s outta desperation.

On how it feels to be one of the most successful personalities, thus far, to have stared at BETand almost being bankrupt:

I didn’t think I was gonna make it…I know for the first 2, 3 years I was terrible. So I’m just happy the network stayed with me. Things at E! are going really well. There was a time when I almost went bankrupt…You get your first Amex and I ran thru that money. And there was a point that I lost everything…My skin started breaking out.

If any of the 106 & Park hosts have reached out to him for advice:

I saw Bow Wow in LA. Bow Wow is just dope. I think his career…he’s doing films, hosting.

If he feels that BET gave the recent hosts that were fired, were given a ‘fair shake':

Honestly, when they transitioned over, I was transitioning at the same time. I was tryna make sure I stayed on E! I was on pins and needles myself..I wasn’t even tryna get involved.